Death... and me

Roan, of course, understood what the other problems would be. 'If there are higher rank Divine Stones, perhaps there are aquatic demon beasts involved in it. There has to be some Rank Four or maybe even Rank Five Divine Stone Mines for this white powder to be created from their dust. Let's forget the fact as to whether we can resolve the other problems. We might be poking a hornet's nest if we go after the source.'

It was then that Kentucky noticed something. 'Wait! What if this white powder that can transform others into salt statues is some defense mechanism? A mine with Rank Four Divine Stone or higher would be considered a continent's treasure. The Sacred Undersea Kingdom would see it as one of the most important things in the entire Pol Continent. Maybe this white powder was created to conceal this mine.'

Rean and Roan were surprised by Kentucky's words when they heard that. After all, it was rare for him to say something that profound. 'Are you really Kentucky? Since when did you become so intelligent?'

'Fuck you! Your grandfather, the great Kentucky, has always been a very intelligent Divine Demon Bird!' Kentucky obviously didn't like those words.

Rean laughed in response before shaking his head. 'Hahaha! Alright, alright. However, let me ask you two. Do you really want to let the chance of possibly finding Rank Four or maybe even Rank Five Divine Stones slip past us? So far, everything we have been talking about is purely assumption. In any case, I truly don't wish to leave without giving it a shot. Worst case scenario, we can at least test it out whether we can use Dark Element to leave this city or not.'

Those words indeed affected Roan and Kentucky. By far, that would be the best discovery they've come across since they arrived in the Realm of Gods. 

'It's worth a try.'

'It's definitely worth a shot.'

Rean nodded after hearing that. 'Good! Then, how should we approach this?'

Roan told Rean after hearing that, 'First, go find more about this Salt Sweep. It takes over two years for it to be over, right? We should keep in mind that if Kentucky is right about it being used as a way to conceal the mine, we need to go out before it's over. I doubt we can find this mine, considering it exists, once the Salt Sweep is gone.'

Rean nodded once he heard that. 'Very well, leave it to me. In fact, I think I know what I want to ask first.' Rean then jumped on Kentucky's back before asking Kentucky to bring them to the guard Rean talked before.

Sure enough, it hadn't been long since Rean left, so that same guard was still on duty. He obviously noticed when Rean and Kentucky arrived as well. "Oh, so you're back. I saw that little girl in your group before. Did she become a statue already?"

Rean shook his head before he explained the same thing he did to the worker in the hotel. 

"This..." The aquatic demon beast was also shocked by what it heard. "That was quite brutal. However, I do have to admit it's indeed a way of saving someone against the transformation. Is she even alive after what you did?"

Rean nodded, replying, "Don't worry. I'm very good at healing, so she'll survive. At the very least, it's better than becoming a statue."

"That's true." The demon beast agreed with Rean.

Rean then changed the topic. "By the way, sir. I haven't asked your name yet even though you gave me so much information."

The aquatic demon beast didn't seem to mind. "I didn't think you would survive for long anyway, and I still don't. In any case, you can just call me Flan."

Rean nodded after that. "Thank you, Flan. Also, I came here to ask you something else."

"If you want to know when you can escape the city, I already told you. The Salt Sweep usually lasts around two years or something like that. Your best shot is to stay in the formation. Just keep these bubbles that separate you from the water and hope for the best."

Rean shook his head, saying, "That's not it. What I want to know is if the concentration of white powder that passes through the Salt Canyon reduces after some time."

Flan confirmed Rean's words, nodding as he replied, "It does. During the first year and a half, the concentration of the white powder will continue just like you're seeing it outside. However, it reduces little by little after that. Obviously, it takes something around six months for it to be completely gone, sometimes more, sometimes less."

Roan, who was listening to everything through the twins' connection, understood what Rean wanted. 'So you want to stay in the city until the concentration of white powder sweeping through the canyon reduces.'

Rean nodded but kept his attention on Flan. "Sir Flan, do you know where's the source of this white powder?"

Flan shook his head. "Why would I know something like that? No one wants to get close to it, afraid of being transformed into a salt statue. You probably heard about the Divine Energy that you can get from it. However, take my advice. It's not worth it."

Rean smiled in response. "I understand. Thank you, sir."

Soon after, Rean commanded Kentucky to go back to the inn before he went up to their room. Of course, Kentucky could only stay outside on his own since he was too big and couldn't take on a human form. "You heard everything, right?"

Roan nodded, saying, "Our best bet is to go out two to three months before the Salt Sweep is over. The concentration won't be too high, but we can still follow it to its source."

Rean was happy that they understood. "Good. That's definitely the best choice. Our plans to travel to the Glacial Corals region has been interrupted, but we might get some bonus from it."

Roan then looked at Falangia, Rafatia, and Luan. "The only question is what we will do with them."

Rean smiled in response, replying, "I have an idea."